For many of us, 2009 sucked. We‘re in a recession. The economy is in the toilet. A lot of us are unemployed, underemployed or some combination thereof. We’re all forced to tighten our belts or cut back on superfluous crap in one way or another.

In that spirit, we decided to cut back here at Imageyenation and deliver a more “economical” edition of our annual year-end list. What that means is that we're foregoing all the individual “best album,” “best song,” “best movie,” “best beard” and “best person” awards and just doing a big “best of” albums list.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed listening to all the music on it.

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5 O‘Clock Shadow Boxers ’The Slow Twilight' Beat Garden Entertainment

A lot of Hip-Hop bloggers rap. A lot of Hip-Hop bloggers make beats. Believe it or not, that’s actually a good thing sometimes. In the case of Zilla Rocca and Douglass Martin it was actually a much-much better thing than most of the music they blog about. In fact, it was one of the best things to happen in Hip-Hop this year. — El Keter ben Tzadik

6PM ‘Tape Worms’ In Silence

80kidz ‘This is My Shit’ KSR

The 87 Stick Up Kids ‘Out 4 Fame’ Self-Released

100dBs ‘All Summer Long: The Brian Wilson Mix’ Drum Attix

100dBs ‘Mr. Echo Inna Killa Dub’ Drum Attix

100dBs ‘Stax of Stax’ Drum Attix

100dBs ‘Winter Skank Mix’ Drum Attix

1000 Names ‘Toys Room Combat’ Believe

A:

Adrian Younge ‘Black Dynamite (Original Motion Picture Score)’ Wax Poetics

Afrobutt ‘Wunderbutt’ Electric Minds

The Almighty Defenders ‘The Almighty Defenders’ Vice

When the Black Lips and King Khan & BBQ Show go to church I shout “hallelujah.” — El Keter ben Tzadik

Amanda Blank ‘I Love You’ Downtown

Diplo and crew came correct with the beats and I enjoyed this album way more than I thought I would. This sounded real nice as Miss Behavin' and I cruised around the Bay Area this past summer. — Emeyesi

Animal Collective ‘Fall Be Kind’ Domino

“Graze.” Holy poop! — Emeyesi

Animal Collective ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ Domino

I added ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ to my “Best of ‘09” list last December before I’d even posted our “Best of ‘08” list here on the site. I knew the first time I heard it that it was going to be one of the best albums, if not the best album, of 2009. A little over a year later I can confirm that this record, which I once described as sounding like pre-illness Brian Wilson hopped up on psilocybin after being sent to a Rave curated by Maya Arulpragasam and Joe Goddard, is the best album of 2009, hands down. — El Keter ben Tzadik

It's always tough for me to pick one “favorite” or “best” album each year, but if judged by “spins” Animal Collective's ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ wins. I still listen to it at least once or twice a week and the damn thing came out in January. This album, like a lot of albums that came out this year, really surprised me. If someone would have told me at the end of 2008 that my favorite album next year will be ‘Merriweather Post Pavillion’ I would have laughed. Well that person is a genius and I am a laughing fool. — Emeyesi

Craziest collection of tunes I’ve heard on an album, ever! What’s even crazier is when I heard this album being played at a funeral early this year! A family friend’s daughter passed away, but at least she had good taste in music. ‘Merriweather Post Pavillion’ is one of those albums were you just get lost in every song as if your mind is going on an adventure trying to understand what the noises are associated with. Its tribal space alien music and as I’m writing this review I’m listening to it and my brain is being turned into mush…All I can see is colors when I listen to this album. Beautiful colors. Favorite album of 2009 and favorite tune is “Daily Routine.” — Miss Behavin’

The Anomalies ‘Free Soup Social’ Beyond

Antony and the Johnsons ‘The Crying Light’ Secretly Canadian

The titular epileptic from the album’s first single may cry “glitter is love.” But as far as I’m concerned its Antony’s tear-jerking songwriting and singing that truly embody the spirit of love in all its multitudinous manifestations. — El Keter ben Tzadik

“Another World” = One of my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE songs from this past year. — Emeyesi

ApSci ‘Best Crisis Ever’ Quannum

Was really looking forward to this album. Loved their debut and couldn't wait to hear more. They did not disappoint. This album was especially special because it dropped the day after I got my iPhone and I felt all futuristic as I downloaded it directly to my phone and had that shit on blast as I cruised to streets of Springfield. Ra and Dana are so slept on. Folks need to wake up! — Emeyesi

Atoi ‘Youth Machine’ Fake Diamond

Au Revoir Simone ‘Still Night, Still Light’ Our Secret Record Company

Hot babes who collect keyboards get me every time. — El Keter ben Tzadik

B:

Baby Teeth ‘Hustle Beach’ Lujo

Bang! Bang! Eche! ‘Sonic Death Cuntttt’ Bang! Bang! Eche!

Basement Jaxx ‘Scars’ XL

These club-scene vets are always good for a few dancefloor bangers and surprising collaborations. Their fifth studio album proved no exception. But Dev “Lightspeed Champion” Hynes doing his thing over thudding kick-drums and squelchy synths on “My Turn” actually exceeded all expectations their last few efforts might have set up. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Battlehooch ‘Piecechow’ Self-Released

BEAK> ‘BEAK>’ Ipecac

Beautiful Small Machines ‘The Robots in Love EP’ Velvet Elk

Benjy Ferree ‘Come Back to the Five and Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee’ Domino

This ‘50s Rock throwback was a sleeper. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Big Tone ‘The Art of Ink’ Tres

Big Urban ‘It's Not So Much the Heat, It's the Humidity’ Embedded

How Nuk Fam crewmembers Kray and Scott Thorough could set out to make a record that deconstructs mainstream Rap only to deliver songs as poignant as “Point of No Return” and “Religious Experience” I’ll never know. But I like it, and it was better than most other Rap records, whether mainstream or underground, which came out this year, so they must be doing something right. — El Keter ben Tzadik

I liked it so much I named a scarf after one of the songs! — m. Cody

Bike for Three ‘More Heart Than Brains’ Anticon

This debut LP from Canadian Hip-Hop godfather Buck 65 and Belgian producer Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê doing “the Postal Service thing” was something to write home about. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Bi-Polar Bear ‘Today I Found Happy’ Setting World Records

Emcees/beatmakers Ugly Orwell and August reminded me of members of the Rhymesayers Entertainment camp, particularly Brother Ali, a whole lot! Unlike Brother Ali however they aren’t the least bit “preachy,” don’t get bogged down in a bunch of organized religion, and actually released an album (which, also unlike Brother Ali, boasted tons of innovative, sample-based beats) I loved this year. — El Keter ben Tzadik

The Bird and The Bee ‘Ray Guns are Not Just the Future’ Blue Note

Another album that made me say “wow.” They totally delivered on this one and the title track would be on my favorite joints of 2009 mixtape. — Emeyesi

Black Lips ‘200 Million Thousand’ Vice

Black Moth Super Rainbow ‘Eating Us’ Graveface

On Black Moth Super Rainbow’s fourth LP the band emerged from the forests of western Pennsylvania and scrubbed off the layers of pastoral charm, ”spooky woods“ mysticism and lo-fidelity grime that have long coated them and their music. The result was a colder, more polished record that favored Krautrock and across-the-pond-originating Prog-Rock more than the dirty reinterpretations of break records, library music and soundtrack tunes of their past efforts. It was still magical, but this time their magic was more akin to that which keeps the magnetic AC cord attached to your Apple laptop than that of a forest-dwelling candy-wizard. — El Keter ben Tzadik

These guys never disappoint, and by ”never disappoint“ I mean that they never disappoint in having people passing my office say ”what is this?“ — Emeyesi

When it comes up on my shuffle, I do not skip it. — m. Cody

Blame One ‘Days Chasing Days’ Soulspazm

Blockhead ‘The Music Scene’ Ninja Tune

The only thing preventing this from being my favorite instrumental Hip-Hop record of the year was an album called ‘Radio’ by a dude named Exile. That said, it’s Blockhead, and not-so-much Exile, who makes beats that sound like I wish my beats sounded. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Blu ‘HerFavoriteColo(u)r’ Self-Released

This cinematic-sample-laden Valentines gift to his fans is still in regular rotation on my iPod almost an entire year later. I can only pray his major label debut is as amazing as this self-produced, self-distributed, free download was. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Blu ‘NoSleepForADay’ Self-Released

Blu ‘Open(theInstrumentalAlbum)’ Self-Released

Bombay Bicycle Club ’I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose’ Island

I was shocked to find out how young this band was when I first heard their single “Always Like This.” Lead singer Jack Steadman has such an amazing voice that makes the band sound very different from most of the British rock bands I’ve heard this year. Though most of their lyrics are based on girls and youth romance, or the lack thereof, because that is what they found easiest to write about at their stage in life. Whenever I listen to the album I feel like a smitten teenager. Favorite tune; “Dust on the Ground.” — Miss Behavin’

Bon Iver ‘Blood Bank EP’ Jagjaguwar

Dude followed up the insanely awesome ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ with a nice little EP that includes the best usage of autotune in 2009 on the track ”Woods.” — Emeyesi

Boxcutter ‘Arecibo Message’ Planet Mu

Boy Crisis ‘Tulipomania’ B-Unique

Animal Collective might have “best album” on lock but “The Fountain of Youth” from Brooklyn’s answer to Empire of the Sunis a major contender for “song of the year” honors. And while the album may have been a last-minute contender for this year’s “best of” list, it landed right near the top, and it’s sure to remain a favorite for a big chunk of 2010. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Boy In Static ‘Candy Cigarette’ Circle Into Square

Boycott Blues ‘Irony’ Brick

This virtually unknown youngster brought conscious Rap into the post-Roc-a-Fella era in a big way with a little production assistance from Beantown veteran Insight. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Bronnt Industries Kapital ‘Hard for Justice’ Get Physical

The Brunettes ‘Paper Dolls’ Lil Chief

Built By Snow ‘Mega’ Built By Snow

Bullion ‘Young Heartache EP’ One-Handed Music

Easily one of my favorite “new dudes.” Always keeps my head nodding and my face making the “doo doo” face with the crunchy ass beats. “Are You the One?” needs to be on everyone's “Best of 2009” mixtape. — Emeyesi

Busdriver ‘Jhelli Beam’ ANTI-

It’s been defunct for more than a decade, but the Good Life Café scene is still innovating! — El Keter ben Tzadik

C:

Cadence Weapon ‘Separation Anxiety’ Self-Released

Cage ’I Never Knew You’ Definitive Jux

Oh FYI Cage also dropped an LP in 2009. Do you think I knew that? Nope. Not until I went to check and see when this excellent EP dropped. I should go track that down. This damn EP was real solid. — Emeyesi

Cage ‘Depart From Me…’ Definitive Jux

Eminem lost… — El Keter ben Tzadik

Chima Anya ‘Higher Ground’ Self-Released

Fuckin’ super thumbs-up. For some reason it’s really good to listen to while riding the bus to my job where I’m underappreciated. Especially “Drunken Rant,” “I Got You Got” and “1922.” — m. Cody

Chin Chin ‘The Flashing, The Fancing’ Definitive Jux

Clutchy Hopkins Meets Lord Kenjamin ‘Music is My Medicine’ Ubiquity

No air-horns or echo-chambers were needed for this “Lee Perry-by-way-of-CTI Records”-style Reggae project from the follicle-faced, supposedly Mojave-dwelling, savant. — El Keter ben Tzadik

CocoRosie ‘Coconuts, Plenty of Junk Food’ Self-Released

Cof Cof ‘Safari’ Self-Released

The Coathangers ‘Scramble’ Suicide Squeeze

The Cool Kids ‘Gone Fishing’ C.A.K.E.

This shit was hella dope, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that their sophomore full-length is still missing in action. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Cryptacize ‘Mythomania’ Asthmatic Kitty

Custodian of Records ‘Burton Music’ Domination

Custodian of Records ‘She Hate Me’ Self-Released

CYNE ‘Water for Mars’ Hometapes

D:

Dan Deacon ‘Bromst’ Carpark

I fronted on Dan’s latest record hard when it dropped. But when I finally gave it a chance I discovered that the beauty of the disfigured Pop music he wrests from piles of microchips and transistors on this album actually rivals that of his neighbors Animal Collective at times. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ Unreleased

It was a dark day for music fans when this all-star record got pulled off of EMI’s release schedule due to a legal dispute with Danger Mouse. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Das Racist ‘Greedheadz EP’ Greedheadz

Okay, so this EP isn’t real. It was just a collection of MP3s I grabbed from the band’s PR company which I Photoshopped a cover for and put on mine and m. Cody’s MP3 players. But it was dope, and it’s holding us over until they actually release a debut album. — El Keter ben Tzadik

In addition to championing the combination Pizza Hut/Taco Bell they were most enjoyable guest-hosts on the Chances With Wolves radio show. — m. Cody

Datarock ‘Red’ Nettwerk

On their stellar sophomore LP the electro-rocking Norwegian duo paid tribute to the Talking Heads, smoothed their sound out on some Steely Dan-esque Jazz-Rock shit, and even hooked you up with an enema. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Yo! These guys really came through on their sophomore effort. “True Stories” was one of the standout tracks from 2009, but “Armarillion” and “New Days Dawn” had me paying attention and taking notice that this was one of the best albums of the year. — Emeyesi

Gee I wonder who Datarock’s influence is? Maybe the key is in my favorite tune off the album, “True Stories?” Though they do sounds like the Teenagers on a few of their tunes. Even though most of the tunes on this album make me want to get up and jump around the room I think “Dance” is the best song to do a dance montage to. — Miss Behavin’

Dead Man's Bones ‘Dead Man’s Bones' ANTI-

And the last minute entry into the Best of 2009 List is...DEAD MAN'S BONES! Did you know Ryan Gosling had a band with his friend Zach Shields? No? Me neither! Did you know they were fucking awesome? You do now! Seriously though. This album featuring the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir is my new favorite thing ever. “My Body's A Zombie For You” is the new love song for the ages. — Emeyesi

“Is this a new Maccabees song?” - Me
“No.” - Emeyesi
“Dude sounds like Elvis, who is it?” - Me
“Guess…” - Emeyesi
“Just tell me!” - Me
“Ryan Gossling’s band…” - Emeyesi
“Whhhhhaaaaaaaaa?” – Me
From what I’ve heard from this album I’m very, very impressed one former Mickey Mouse Club kid finally got musical talent. — Miss Behavin’

Deastro ‘Moondagger’ Ghostly International

Deeprest ‘Deeprest’ Home-Made

Dent May ‘The Good Feeling Music of Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele’ Paw Tracks

This collection of Exotica-flavored Pure-Pop courtesy of a bespectacled, Ukulele-playing Mississippian and Animal Collective’s Paw Tracks imprint was another early addition to this list. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Department of Eagles ‘In Ear Park’ 4AD

Came out in 2008. Totally missed out on its awesomeness. “No One Does It Like You” is up there on my list of favorite tracks from this past year. — Emeyesi

Desire ‘Desire’ Italians Do It Better

Diamond Watch Wrists ‘Ice Capped at Both Ends’ Warp

Discovery ‘LP’ XL

Two dudes from two bands I like (Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot) got together and cranked out a nice little Electro/R&B album. To think that I learned about it from some random magazine that was in my hotel room still boggles my mind. Shout out to Larkspur Landing for that one. — Emeyesi

DJ Signify ‘Of Cities’ Bully

DOOM ‘Born Like This’ Lex

Despite an extended hiatus, an increasingly bad reputation fueled by the villainous antics of his “Doomposters” and the presence of a number of recycled beats the now MF-less DOOM delivered with this long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s ’MM..Food.’ I still rock cuts like the Dilla-jacking “Gazzillion Ear,” the Bukowski-sampling, Dr. York-referencing “Cellz,” the all-star autotune-assisted “Supervillainz” and the initially disappointing early leak “Ballskin” on a near-daily basis. — El Keter ben Tzadik

He’s so dreamy. — m. Cody

The Drums ‘The Drums’ Self-Released

Like the Das Racist EP this is another record that I don’t think actually existed, but which consisted of random MP3s collected in album-format. That I’d go to such great lengths to make it presentable should indicate how much I dug their Surf-Rock-for-The Haçienda sound. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Dumbfoundead ‘Fun With Dumb’ Self-Released

He eats emcees for breakfast, but I ate his solo debut up and looked forward to seconds. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Yeah man…“K-Town” man. — m. Cody

E:

Eagle and Talon ‘Thracian’ Orphan

If I may paraphrase the beautiful babes of the band themselves... “I am the snowman, I’m the abominable snowman… I downloaded this album for free and I played it over and over.” — El Keter ben Tzadik

Ebony Bones ‘Bone of My Bones’ PIAS

Sick debut album from one of my favorite new chicks of the year. Great to stomp to work to. Great to juggle to. Looking forward to hearing more. I don’t miss M.I.A. at all! — m. Cody

Editors ‘In This Light and on This Evening’ Kitchenware

Tom Smith and company teamed up with Marc Ellis a.k.a. Flood and banged out an album that was sonically unlike anything they‘ve done in the past, which was a very pleasant surprise. I almost thought I was listening to some sort of remix EP at first! They plugged in the synths, got dark and I loved it. — Emeyesi

El Michels Affair ’Enter the 37th Chamber' Fat Beats

Electric Wire Hustle ‘Electric Wire Hustle’ Self-Released

Eliot Lipp ‘Peace Love Weed 3D’ Old Tacoma

Emmy the Great ‘First Love’ Close Harbour

Songs about abortions are almost as good as actual abortions. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Empire of the Sun ‘Walking on a Dream’ Astralwerks

Sounds like distant brothers of MGMT with the vocals eerily similar. They sound like they are singing with stuffed noses almost, but it works! It's modern psychedelic music that you can bob your head to, or use in a commercial like Vizio TV did. Favorite tune; “Standing on the Shore.” — Miss Behavin’

Esser ‘Braveface’ Transgressive

Exile ‘Radio’ Plug Research

Using nothing but samples culled from actual radio broadcasts Los Angeles-based DJ/producer Exile made what just might be the best instrumental Hip-Hop album of all time and an easy contender for best album of the year. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Extraperlo ‘Desayuno Continental’ Mushroom Pillow

Eyedea & Abilities ‘By the Throat’ Rhymesayers

A pair of the most skilled emcees and DJs of our era made an album that expertly fused Hip-Hop, Rock and Electronica, and almost nobody seemed to give a fuck. I’d like to thank everybody, from the general public to so-called “tastemakers,” for having shitty taste in almost everything. — El Keter ben Tzadik

So fuckin’ good! Even though it makes me kinda sad. — m. Cody

F:

Faunts ‘Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.’ Friendly Fire

Dear all you kids out there picking up that Owl City album…Put it down. Get this Faunts album instead. You will thank me. Also stop comparing that dude to Postal Service. Also stop playing that shit in Antonio's Pizza. You are ruining the pizza. “Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.” would be on my 2009 mixtape. — Emeyesi

Felt ‘Felt, Vol. 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez’ Rhymesayers

Listening to the latest collaboration between Slug and MURS (joined here by Aesop Rock on the boards) I realized that N.O.R.M., the group me and my boy Mr. Vizuals were members of back in the late ‘90s, was Felt before Felt was Felt. I also realized that all three of the dudes involved in producing this LP continue to grow by leaps and bounds as artists at every opportunity despite their decades of shared history in the game. I also-also realized that I wish Aesop Rock had rapped on most of these beats himself, because, well…He’s an awesome rapper too and is about due to drop another album of his own. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Fever Ray ‘Fever Ray’ Rabid

Am I the only one who thought this shit was hypnotic? One of the soundtracks to my late night 2009 drives. — Emeyesi

The Fiery Furnaces ‘I'm Going Away’ Thrill Jockey

Filastine ‘Dirty Bomb’ Soot

Good to do the dishes to, and feel extraordinary walking uphill in my hood to, and maybe your hood too. — m. Cody

Flairs ‘Sweat Symphony’ Third Side

Floating Action ‘Floating Action’ Park the Van

I like new records that sound like old records. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Florence and the Machines ‘Lungs’ Island

This albums grew on me the more I heard it. There is so much going on in some of the songs, such as “Dog Days Are Over,” but Florence Welsh’s voice never gets overpowered by the Machines. Reminds me of Tori Amos, K.T. Tunstal, Lamb, etc. Florence’s voice can be powerful alone, acoustically or with an electronic beat. Not too many people can pull that off, not even in auto-tune. Favorite tune; “Blinding.” — Miss Behavin’

Fol Chen ‘Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made' Asthmatic Kitty

Frankmusik ‘Complete Me’ Island

Finally! Synthy Electro-Pop goodness. I was hooked on Frankmusik's earlier work and remixes and couldn't wait for him to get a proper release. Well done Frank! — Emeyesi

Franz Ferdinand ‘Tonight’ Domino

Friendly Fires ‘Friendly Fires’ XL

Totally missed out on these guys when this album originally dropped last year, but it was re-released this past August so I‘ll make up for it by adding them to this list. Solid all the way through, this album got a ridiculous amount of play over the past 12 months. Track down floor stomper “Kiss of Life”, which they added to the re-release. — Emeyesi

Friday Bridge ‘Bite My Tongue’ But is it Art

G:

The Gaslamp Killer ‘My Troubled Mind’ Brainfeeder

Have you ever wondered what Edan would sound like if he didn’t Rap? How about Stereolab if their music was sample-based, breakbeat-driven, and wasn't draped in all that cooing from sexy French communists? Well, enigmatic Los Angeles-based DJ and beatmaker The Gaslamp Killer had you covered on both counts with his debut record for Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint, ‘My Troubled Mind,’ a retro-futurist psychedelic trip of phonographic proportions. — El Keter ben Tzadik

General Elektriks ‘Good City for Dreamers’ Discograph

Hervé is back! Dude is just fonky. This was easily an in-office favorite of mine. “Bloodshot Eyes” would be on my ‘09 mixtape. — Emeyesi

Giorgio Tuma ‘My Vocalese Fun Fair’ Elefant

A perfect soundtrack for dressing up like Christopher Walken and getting your “Continental” on... — El Keter ben Tzadik

Golden Boots ‘Winter of Our Discotheque’ Park the Van

Gotta Be Karim ‘10,000 Apples’ Cobblestone Rock Music

Grass Widow ‘Grass Widow’ Make a Mess

Grizzly Bear ’Veckatimest' Warp

Lump these guys in with Animal Collective as another band who I really liked and admired, but never did I think I would love the album they dropped this year as much as I did. So solid all the way through. I continue to be obsessed with this album. “Ready Able” is right there at the top as my favorite song from the past year. — Emeyesi

H:

Healamonster & Tarsier ‘Cupcake Cave’ Healamonster & Tarsier

Hecuba ‘Paradise’ Manimal

Like Hercules & Love Affair getting their Portishead on… — El Keter ben Tzadik

Helado Negro ‘Awe Owe’ Asthmatic Kitty

Coming off like James Yancey, had he been born in El Barrio instead of the Motor City, Los Angeles-based musician Roberto Carlos Lange’s fusion of Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop and traditional Folk music with a distinctly Latin sensibility delivered on the promise of all those Catalan-flavored side projects Guillermo Scot Herren keeps dropping. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Hot Chip 'A Bugged Out Mix' New State

Loved this mix. It reminded me of Urban Alternatives when DJ12XU would show up and drop a wild and crazy set with all sorts of outlandish treats mixed in. — Emeyesi

Hudson Mohawke ‘Butter’ Warp

Hudson Mohawke ‘Polyfolk Dance EP’ Warp

HotChaCha ‘The World's Hardest Working Telescope and the Violent Birth of Stars’ Exit Stencil

How I Became the Bomb ‘Vol. 1: Who Dares Wins’ Self-Released

How I Became the Bomb ‘Vol. 2: Foremost Sentinel’ Self-Released

How I Became the Bomb ‘Vol. 3: They Can What it Seems They Cannot’ Self-Released

How I Became the Bomb ‘Vol. 4: Through Adversity to the Stars’ Self-Released

I:

Ikebe Shakedown ‘Hard Steppin’’ Colemine

At the request of label-owner Terry Cole I wrote liner notes for this EP, which sounded like hot, sweaty, hashish-hazed sex with a big-booty-having, afro-wearing African amazon. For whatever reason, the members of the Brooklyn-based retro-Afro-Funk orchestra decided to go in a different direction with the promotional copy on the packaging and nixed my contributions. I don’t mind though, because I still got to listen to their unbelievably funky debut way-way-way before anybody else, which was a reward in and of itself. — El Keter ben Tzadik

I Monster 'A Dense Swarm of Ancient Stars' Twins of Evil

Inara George ‘Accidental Experimental’ Everloving

Intuition & VerBS ‘Buzz’ Self-Released

The Invisible ‘The Invisible’ Accidental

J:

J Dilla ‘Jay Stay Paid’ Nature Sounds

Thank you Pete Rock and everyone else for getting this to us. Oh and “In the Night/While You Slept (I Crept)” = BOOM! — Emeyesi

J. Howells Werthman ‘We are Making Plans’ Radio Belly

So many talented motherfuckers, not the least of which being Werthman and his Nuk Fam brethren, contributed to the making of this surreptitiously high-concept album. Even the artwork was a thing of beauty! And it was 100% free of charge! If you didn't download it and love the shit out of it you probably don't give a shit about Hip-Hop, art, or life. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Jacuzzi Boys ‘No Seasons’ Florida's Dying

Jahpan ‘An Album Called Life’ Glow-in-the-Dark

James Pants ‘All the Hits’ Stones Throw

James Pants ‘Seven Seals’ Stones Throw

After anticipating it heavily for months I had trouble getting into James Pants’ sophomore effort. Then I got a new pair of far-more-dynamic headphones for my iPod and the record just blossomed for me. I’ve been entranced by it every since, and should remain so for months to come! So despite being a late entry to this list, and slow-to-grow-on-me in the first place, I anticipate ‘Seven Seals’ having legs just as long as Pants’ debut ‘Welcome’ and staying a favorite for much of 2010. — El Keter ben Tzadik

JJ ‘JJ N° 2’ Sincerely Yours

Jeb Loy Nichols ‘Parish Bar’ Compass

Jenny Wilson ‘Hardships!’ Gold Medal

The former First Floor Power bandleader dropped Lykke Li’s sophomore album before Lykke Li even had the chance to! — El Keter ben Tzadik

Jeremy Jay ‘Love Everlasting EP’ K.

Sounding like a young Lou Reed armed with a sampler and copies of Bob James’ “Nautilus” and 7th Wonder’s “Daisy Lady,” Jeremy Jay switched his style up again on this out-of-nowhere EP. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Jeremy Jay ‘Slow Dance’ K.

Jessie Evans ‘Is it Fire?’ Fantomette

Joe Goddard ‘Harvest Festival’ Greco Roman

BASS! Yo this sounds so crispy in the ride. Wish there was more of Joe singing on it though. Dude kills it on “Lemon & Lime (Home Time)”. — Emeyesi

Jogger ‘This Great Pressure’ Magical Properties

Jookabox ‘317 Ways’ Asthmatic Kitty

Jookabox ‘Dead Zone Boys’ Asthmatic Kitty

At first I thought linking up with a band took a lot of the “crazy” out of David “Moose” Adamson’s Jookabox project’s music. But repeated listens to Adamson and company’s urban-zombie-romance concept album ‘Dead Zone Boys’ has revealed an insanity that runs a lot deeper than the clangorous junkyard noise and wacky vocal effects his outstanding 2008 sophomore album ‘Ropechain’ was wrapped up in. Sure ‘Dead Zone Boys’ is different, and less crazy sounding, but Jookabox is still as bat-shit-crazy as ever, and that makes for great listening. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Joyo Velarde ‘Joyo Velarde EP’ Quannum

The Juan MacLean ‘The Future Will Come’ DFA

Julian Casablancas ‘Phrazes for the Young’ Cult

I was always a fan of Julian's voice so he was going to have to really fuck up the production on this album to turn me off. He didn‘t. I dug it. — Emeyesi

Jumbling Towers ‘Classy Entertainment’ Self-Released

Junior Boys ’Begone Dull Care' Domino

I'm declaring this the best album of 2009. It's probable that an album with an electronic sound will catch my ear before anything else, but I did come to this decision after listening to quite a mix of musics. That is to say, my musical preferences usually follow my mood and 2009 was an emotional roller coaster. HUZZAH! ‘Begone Dull Care’ is simply exceptionally done. Of course, you can hear an influence behind many albums, no matter the genre. I think Junior Boys succeed where many others fall flat in that they do not simply recreate past sounds and styles, but actually build something new using influences from the past. Listening to ‘Begone Dull Care,’ you'd half expect to see Ozone and the crew from ‘Breakin’' throwing down on a piece of linoleum outside your window. Exciting, yes, I know. Better still, once you take a listen, you realize how many layers of thoughtful sound have been constructed to create a wonderful design. It's not simply a “throwback”. It's something new that has carefully utilized sound compositions that work and discarded all the excess, played out nonsense. High five, boys. — Reverend She-Ra

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k-os ‘Yes!’ Virgin

Dude is so consistent. Three great LPs in a row. His albums always seem so effortless and fluid, and they just flow from one song into the next. Quietly one of my favorite dudes doing it right now. — Emeyesi

Karen O and the Kids ‘Where the Wild Things Are (Motion Picture Soundtrack)’ DGC

I held off listening to this until after I saw the movie and I'm glad I did because listening to it on the way home while thinking about myself, the kids I work with, Max, the book, the movie, etc. etc. was great. That damn “All is Love” is just gold. — Emeyesi

Kasabian ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ RCA

Anybody thinking producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura’s “fallen off” since the days of Dr. Octogon, Deltron 3030 and Gorillaz needs to shut the fuck up and listen to this. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Katsen ‘It Hertz!’ Shelflife

Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds ‘Dracula Boots’ In the Red

This former member of The Cramps, The Gun Club, and Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds backing band plumbed the vintage depths and came up sounding like a Chicano-Rock, Garage-Rock and Surf-Rock-inspired Clutchy Hopkins. — El Keter ben Tzadik

This album reminds me of Question Mark & The Mysterians’ ‘96 Tears,’ but for today. I could listen to both of them every day. — m. Cody

KiD CuDi ‘Man on the Moon: The End of Day’ G.O.O.D.

I copped this album the same week as Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II’ and Ghostface’s ‘Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City.’ Those albums from respected Hip-Hop veterans aren’t on this list. The debut album from a Cleveland, Ohio-bred hipster who croons as much as he raps is. Nobody’s more surprised about that than me. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Keter and I are still amazed at how solid this album was. After what seemed like forever and after a few mixtapes, that each had some really solid-to-excellent songs on them, we figured he just had nothing left that would make his debut LP stand out. Oops. Shit is great. A number of choice joints on here but I have to go with “Simple as...” for my 2009 mixtape. — Emeyesi

Kings of Convenience ‘Declaration of Dependence’ Astralwerks

On their third LP as a duo Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe stripped their sound way down but still managed to sound infinitely more substantial as songwriters, musicians, singers and human beings than the glitziest, glammiest, big-band-havingest, multi-million-dollar-studio-recordingest, money-spendingest stars the mainstream music industry has to offer. — El Keter ben Tzadik

I have to give a quick nod to Kings of Convenience ‘Declaration of Dependence.’ Erlend Oye is quite delightful. He makes me feel so good about feeling so sorry for myself. The album features simple, pretty melodies and vocals. Erlend is one of the only people who can make sadness endearing. Cheers, poor fellow. — Reverend She-Ra

Kinny ‘Idle Forest of Chit Chat’ Tru Thoughts

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Lake Heartbeat ‘Trust in Numbers’ Service

La Patère Rose ‘La Patère Rose’ Grosse Boîte

Mon dieu! — El Keter ben Tzadik

La Roux ‘La Roux’ Polydor

She came out of nowhere and I loved every minute of her debut album. — Emeyesi

Lee Fields & The Expressions ‘My World’ Truth & Soul

Liger ‘Crash Symbols’ Beatismurder

Little Boots ‘Hands’ Sixsevenine

Another great debut from 2009. I used to rock this back to back with the La Roux album and get my “sexy lady Electro” on. — Emeyesi

Little Dragon ‘Machine Dreams’ Peacefrog

I was looking forward to the sophomore LP from this Swedish Electro-Pop quartet ever since I finished listening to their breakthrough 2007 debut for the first time. When it arrived this Summer however it seemed unremarkable compared to both their self-titled entree and the other music that was catching my ear at the time. But I threw it on my iPod, despite my underwhelmed reaction, and it surprises me to admit that it's still there and in almost daily rotation to this very day! Synthy Pop/New Wave/R&B hybrid tracks like “Blinking Pigs,” “Swimming,” “Never Never,” “Runabout” and “Looking Glass” expand on the subtle Prince influences evident on their first record, making ‘Machine Dream’ sound like some kind of resurrected Starr Company production for a new millennium Sheila E. or something. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls ‘Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls’ Ubiquity

Loney, Dear ‘Dear John’ Polyvinyl

The Long Lost ‘The Long Lost’ Ninja Tune

Daedelus and his wife Laura Darlington got their auditory Wes Anderson on with this one, and I dug it just as much as I always seem to dig his flicks. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Lushlife ‘Cassette City’ Rapster

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Madlib ‘Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to Dilla’ Stones Throw

Magic Arm ‘Make Lists, Do Something’ Switchflicker

MAGr ‘No News is Good News’ Public Axis

Major Lazer ‘Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do’ Mad Decent

HORSE NOISE! — El Keter ben Tzadik

PON DE LAZER! Fucking “Hold the Line” still burns. Seriously…Play that shit right now and see if you don't start convulsing. Shit had an autotuned baby on it! C‘mon! Dude has a rocket arm and fights zombies! Let’s make no bones about it. Switch and Diplo brought the heat. It also didn't hurt to have Eric Wareheim cook up some insane videos. This sounded extra lovely as I sat in New York City traffic over the Summer. — Emeyesi

Take that Reggae music! — m. Cody

Matt & Kim ‘Grand’ Fader

Not as frantic and wild as their first LP. A bit more focused and mature? Maybe? I dunno. I loved it. “Lessons Learned” was one of my favorite tracks from the past year. — Emeyesi

Mayer Hawthorne ‘A Strange Arrangement’ Stones Throw

“Just Ain't Gonna Work Out” was one of my favorite joints from late 2008 and when Mr. Hawthorne's album finally dropped it did not disappoint. — Emeyesi

Meanderthals ‘Desire Lines’ Smalltown Supersound

The Memphis Sounds ‘Ike's Moods’ Decision

MC Esoteric ‘7L & Esoteric Present Serve or Suffer’ Fly Casual

MC Esoteric ‘Saving Seamus Ryan’ Fly Casual

The lack of comic-book-inspired imagery on its ingenious hard-cover packaging made me think that Eso might be slipping back into the generic ‘90s boom-bap formulas that weighed him down during the early-‘00s on his long-awaited concept album. That’s not the case at all though. In fact, his immersion in off-the-wall concepts reaches new heights here as he introduces a character named “Indie Solo” whose voice is provided throughout the narrative by samples of actor Harrison Ford from his various film appearances! He still references comic books and other geeky ephemera at every opportunity, but this time it’s all in service to an actual story that encompasses real life situations from the death of his longtime canine companion, his decision to propose to his lady friend, his frustration as a struggling musician, a violent mugging and the desire to seek revenge, and a whole lot more! It’s nothing short of a masterpiece. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Storytelling at its finest. Definitely, probably, actually, I think it may be one of the most beautifully packaged albums of the year. — m. Cody

Micachu ‘Jewellery’ Rough Trade

A collaborative effort between avant-garde singer, songwriter, composer, and producer Mica Levi, Raisa Khan, Marc Pell and producer Matthew Herbert, ’Jewellery’ sounded something like Kitty Daisy & Lewis teaming up with Joe Goddard, Alexis Taylor, Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams, Timothy Mosley and Tom Jenkinson to record a spastic laptop-Punk tribute to Wreckless Eric. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Miike Snow ‘Miike Snow’ Downtown

Who the heck is Miike Snow? These dudes’ album was on repeat from the day I first listened to it and I was recommending it to everyone. Without a doubt one of my top favorites of the year. — Emeyesi

Micah James ‘Agoraphobia’ Self-Released

Dude’s debut mixtape was so dope that I actually sent him a beat and asked him to rhyme on it. I can barely wait for the 87 Stick Up Kids-affiliate's official full length, which is due sometime in 2010. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Milton Jackson ‘Crash’ Freerange

Moby ‘Wait for Me’ Little Idiot/Mute

I digested this album for the first time when I had jury duty. I was blown away by how good it was. Moby was aiming to make a personal record and he nailed it. Keep making records like this Moby! No more Gwen Stefani! Keep it dark, moody and beautiful! — Emeyesi

Mocky ‘Saskamodie’ Crammed

Montt Mardié ‘Skaizerkite’ Hybris

Mos Def ‘The Ecstatic’ Downtown

The mighty Mos Def is back! Great LP. “Pistola” was one of my favorite tracks this year. — Emeyesi

Mr. Chop ‘For Pete's Sake’ Stones Throw

MSTRKRFT ‘Fist of God’ Downtown

Mud Buddha ‘Tenants of Babylon’ Paramanu

The spiritual successor to Company Flow is a Vermont-based, khaki-pants-wearing, syllable-spiller? Yup. And his album is an easy contender for best Hip-Hop album of the year. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Especially “Juggernaughts Poem,” “Once a Thief” and “Metropolis.” — m. Cody

Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics ‘Inspiration Information, Vol. 3’ Strut

Mux Mool ‘Just Saying is All’ Moodgadget

My Toys Like Me ‘Where We Are’ Dumb Angel

I first blogged about this co-ed UK duo years ago. I never thought they'd get their shit together and actually release an album. They did though, and it was lovely. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Especially “Superpowers,” “Grin & Wriggle” and “Bats.” — m. Cody

Myka 9 ‘1969’ Fake Four Inc.

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Nancy Fortune ‘Crystallised’ Clone Digital

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens ‘What Have You Done, My Brother’ Daptone

Napoleon ‘Bohemians Won the Series and the Little Guy Joined the Band’ Ruffa Lane

Like The Cure, re-imagined by the cast of ’Glee.’ — El Keter ben Tzadik

Neon Indian ‘Psychic Chasms’ Lefse

Nino Moschella ‘Boomshadow’ Ubiquity

Nite People ‘What Do You Mean You People’ Social Light Sounds

Nosaj Thing ‘Drift’ Alpha Pup

“Bach” makes me go “AHHHHGGGG!!!” — m. Cody

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of Montreal ‘Jon Brion Remix EP’ Polyvinyl

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P.O.S. ‘Never Better’ Rhymesayers

If your favorite Rap “anthem” doesn’t sound like “Drumroll (We’re All Thirsty)” it’s not actually an anthem and the rappers you like probably aren’t very good. — El Keter ben Tzadik

This guy is ridiculous! This album hit like a megaton bomb. “Drumroll?” “Purexed?” Wow. Dude just keeps getting better. — Emeyesi

Thank goodness Stefon “decided that rap was an alternative, valid method of expression.” — m. Cody

Panacea ‘The Re-Route’ Glow in the Dark

Parker Lewis ‘Parker Lewis’ Mad For It Inc.

Passion Pit ‘Manners’ French Kiss

I was really looking forward to this after seeing a few snippets of the album being recorded. It didn't disappoint. — Emeyesi

Pat D & Lady Paradox ‘Soulscapes & Jazz Breaks’ A Bridge Too Far

Jazzy as Bob James' jockstrap! — El Keter ben Tzadik

Paten Locke ‘Super Ramen Rocketship’ Tres

MC Paul Barman ‘Thought Balloon Mushroom Cloud’ Househusband

Best Hip-Hop album of the year? Maybe. I mean how could it not be when there’s “more knowledge in one song than the next man’s whole album?” — El Keter ben Tzadik

The quality of this album makes me want to laugh in the face of every person I know who calls themselves an emcee. LQTM…He also takes one helluva picture. — m. Cody

Paul White ‘The Strange Dreams of Paul White’ One-Handed Music

On the same label as Bullion. On the same dusty, bumpy, crusty sampling shit as Bullion too. A nice little head-nodder right here. — Emeyesi

Peaches 'I Feel Cream' XL

On her fifth LP Peaches kept up the genderfuckery, dropped filthy raps over razor sharp beats, channeled old-school blue-eyed-Blues belters like 10 Wheel Drive frontwoman Jenya Ravan and Lydia Pence of Cold Blood, and mushed her bush in the face of baby-diva bitches like Lady Gaga and Rhianna who’ve ripped off her style without taking any of the risks. — El Keter ben Tzadik

People Under the Stairs ‘Carried Away’ OM

Peter Bjorn and John ‘Living Thing’ Wichita

“Nothing to Worry About” was every bit as anthemic as “Young Folks,” even if it wasn't nearly as celebrated by the so-called “cool kids” of the world. — El Keter ben Tzadik

This thing grew on me like crazy. It was going to be hard to top ‘Writer’s Block' but I‘ll be damned if they didn’t crank out an amazing, sort-of (‘Seaside Rock’ aside), follow-up. — Emeyesi

Peter Bjorn and John ‘Re-Living Thing’ Bootleg

The Phenomenal Handclap Band ‘The Phenomenal Handclap Band’ Tummy Touch

Post War Years ‘The Greats and the Happenings’ Wealth

Prefuse 73 ‘Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian’ Warp

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Quitzow ‘Animal Nature EP’ Young Love

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Ras G ‘Brotha From Anotha Planet’ Brainfeeder

Robots With Hearts ‘Divided by Zero’ TAPE

Rossano Snel ‘Gallery EP’ One Cell

Röyksopp ‘Junior’ Astralwerks

These guys make some solid-ass albums. “Tricky Tricky” is definitely on my ‘09 mixtape. — Emeyesi

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Sage Francis ‘Sick of Wasting...’ Strange Famous

Sage spitting over David Bowie beats? What underground Rap nerds may have once thought ludicrous was one of the highlights of nerdy underground Rap in 2009. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Especially “Strange Fame,” “Needle” and “House of Bees.” — m. Cody

Savath Y Savalas ‘La Llama’ Stones Throw

Sene ‘ADayLate&AdollarShort’ Shaman Work

The Brooklyn-based emcee recruited Los Angeles-based rapper/beatmaker Blu (under his GODleeBarnes alias) to produce his debut full-length and the result was some Pete and CL shit for the post-Stones Throw generation. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Serengeti ‘Conversations With Kenny/Legacy of Lee’ Golden Floyd

With songs about beastiality, laundromats, crack dealers, talking toads & wizard robes, ferret-owning hippie chicks, visible cock impressions, drug abuse, rapping, Burning Man, death, telling Curtis to go fuck himself, redemption and recovery it’ll make you laugh and cry while you nod your head. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Favorite album of the year. — m. Cody

Serengeti & Polyphonic ‘Terradactyl’ Anticon

More caustic, and way sadder, than the pair’s debut, but they’re still making some of most beautiful, most honest Rap music of our era. — El Keter ben Tzadik

I saw them live a couple months ago and refused to go to a Reggae night afterwards with my homegirl because I didn’t want to muddle up the music left over in my head with that crap. — m. Cody

Shafiq Husayn ‘Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka’ Plug Research

I don’t think I listened to the Sa-Ra album that came out this year once. But I listen to this solo release from one of the three Creative Partners almost every day. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Shawn Lee ‘Shawn Lee Presents Soul in the Hole’ Ubiquity

Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins ‘Fascinating Fingers’ Ubiquity

Tracks like “What More Can I Say (Top Chillin‘)” and “Cross Rhodes” brought a heretofore unheard of hypnotic smoothness to the Clutchy Hopkins sound, and I loved it. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Really good, but I wish it were longer. I also want the cover on a t-shirt. — m. Cody

The Show is the Rainbow ’Wet Fist' Retard Disco

Simian Mobile Disco ‘Temporary Pleasure’ Wichita

It’s got a song with Hot Chip frontman Alexis Taylor singing on it. I actually heard that song on the in-store radio station in a local Old Navy store once. If that's not one of the best things to happen in 2009 I don't know what is. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Sin Fang Bous ‘Clangour’ Morr Music

Siriusmo ‘The Uninvited Guest EP’ Monkeytown

Sole and the Skyrider Band ‘Plastique’ Fake Four Inc.

Soso and DJ Kutdown ‘All They Found Was Water at the Bottom of the Sea’ Hue

How do you say “stinkface” in Canadian? — El Keter ben Tzadik

I will be listening to this on my way to work this week. — m. Cody

Street Sweeper Social Club ‘Street Sweeper Social Club’ Independent Label Group

Maybe the best album The Coup never made! — El Keter ben Tzadik

Take that Rage Against the Machine! — m. Cody

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names ‘#4’ Labrador

I just wish it was a full-length and not an EP. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Super Chron Flight Brothers ‘Indonesia’ Backwoodz Studioz

Superstar Quamallah ‘Invisible Man’ Brick

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Tableek ‘Nothing Lesser’ Burnt Berry

Telafon Tel Aviv ‘Imolate Yourself’ BPitch Control

Telepathe ‘Dance Mother’ IAMSOUND

Like TV on the Radio, but with 100% more menstruation. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Temper Trap ‘Conditions’ Liberation/Glassnote

I‘ve got a few favorite songs from this past year and “Sweet Disposition” is one that I loved to sing along with as I barreled down the Massachusetts Turnpike. — Emeyesi

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down ‘Know Better Learn Faster’ Kill Rock Stars

Themselves ‘CrownsDown’ Anticon

Emcee doseone actually gives out his home address on one of the songs on this LP and tells anybody who thinks they can fuck with him to come see him. Nobody’s going to, because, as this album demonstrates, he’s way better, and way harder than all of those motherfuckers anyway. — El Keter ben Tzadik

These are Powers ‘All Aboard Future’ Dead Oceans

Think About Life ’Family' Alien8

If you like TV on the Radio but wish they had of Montreal's sense of humor you need to get this album inside one, or preferably both, of your ear-holes with the quickness. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Thunderheist ‘Thunderheist’ Big Dada

Tiga ‘Ciao!’ Last Gang

Timber Timbre ‘Timber Timbre’ Out of This Spark

This collection of retro Country music made for surprisingly good walking music for this modern city-dweller. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Tortoise ‘Beacons of Ancestorship’ Thrill Jockey

Tough Junkie ‘Grab What You Can’ Coalmine

A record that sounds tailor-made for the old Summer Record Report in ’The Source’ back when ’The Source’ actually covered Hip-Hop music. — El Keter ben Tzadik

tUnE-YaRdS ‘BiRd-BrAiNs’ Marriage

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Valutan ‘Terror EP’ Pitch9

The Very Best ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ Green Owl

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Wallpaper. ‘Doodoo Face’ Eeenie Meenie

If Dave and P-Thugg of Canadian retro-Electro duo Chromeo handed the writing and producing reigns of their next LP over to T-Pain it’d probably sound like ‘Doodoo Face,’ the debut album from this Oakland, California-based Crunk-Pop twosome. — El Keter ben Tzadik

WEAVE! ‘WEAVE! EP’ Pacific Reasons

When Saints Go Machine ‘Ten Makes a Face’ EMI

The Whitest Boy Alive ‘Rules’ Bubbles

It does rule! Sounds like lounge music Kermit the Frog created to be played at a funky hotel lobby. It still doesn’t seem like an album that came out in 2009. Maybe more like 1960’s-1970’s because it’s too “groovy” man! Favorite tune; “1517.” — Miss Behavin’

White Denim ‘Fits’ Full Time Hobby

WHY? ‘Eskimo Snow’ Anticon

Will C. ‘Evil in the Mirror’ Brick

This 22-year-old gopher-turned-wunderkind looks a little bit like a sawed-off Edan and sounds kinda like a younger Prime Minister Pete Nice, and his self-produced debut is easily one of the best, and best-produced (it's packed with obscure samples and crate-tested breaks), Hip-Hop records of the year. — El Keter ben Tzadik

Willie Isz ‘Georgiavania’ Lex

Wu-Tang ‘Chamber Music’ E1 Music

The only good record to come from the Clan this year. But this one, which